I've Been Reincarnated As A Summoned Beast: Chapter 6

Zero

“Well, shit.” Who would have known that consuming someone who had summons connected to their body would become yours? Does that mean if I find an interesting beast and want to claim it for myself, I just have to eat the summoner? I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.

But, on the other hand, why would I need some other beast when I plan on being the apex of this world? Also, could this really be her name? Letters started showing up within my mind, rearranging until it finally settled on one that seemed right.

Watching the fox in question running in front of Euphy as she followed in my direction, I couldn’t help but smile as I mumbled the name, ‘Kyomi.’

What? After her name was called, I felt my soul link activate, and for a few seconds I saw myself out of her eyes as she was running in my direction. I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded as I thought it was only used for one person. How could it also connect with her?

As I was in that state, Kyomi jumped up and started licking me in the same way I took advantage of Euphy, completing the soul link as we both turned into a bright white light. I felt my element leaking out all around me, submerging the area in absolute zero. For some reason it reacted with much more power than when Euphy and I connected.

After some time had passed and my senses got a handle on what just took place, I saw a fox that was now a snowy white with pink ears and a tail. Kyomi was almost a mirror image of me besides her pink tips. I also felt the same element emanating from her body. She had also gained a second tail!

‘Seriously?’ I couldn’t help but laugh at how fate works sometimes. Her strength had doubled just like mine did upon a new tail and brought about the same power over cold as I held.

On the bright side, I just got a subordinate who would grow to great heights in the future; on the other hand, her look towards me is worrying. Before she could tackle me to the ground, I froze her in ice as Euphy approached, looking at me with a conflicted expression.

‘Sup?’ I said with a cheerful tone.

“What did you do, Zero?”

‘I got a subordinate.’ I turned in the direction of the fox currently frozen solid in ice. She was completely safe inside there, as her resistance to the cold was absolute.

“A subordinate, how did that happen?” She looked at me with a gaze that said she wouldn’t move till her question was answered. “What happened to Todd?”

‘That bastard is gone, so no need to worry about him.’

Before I could continue the conversation, Kyomi had broken out of the ice statue and tackled me to the ground. While it’s true I could have stopped her attempt, some part of me wanted to accept it. Is this some kind of payback because of what I did to Euphy in the past twenty-four hours?

Kyomi groomed my whole body with her tongue as if possessed by something, and it was kind of worrying me how dedicated she just became. I could feel her loyalty grow as the seconds ticked on a clock. My instincts flared up at her actions, but not in a way that would cause a threat; it was something else entirely.

***

Euphy

We all had to hurry back to my room to figure out what just happened and also to calm myself down to what Zero had just told me. How can a summons become a summoner?

My gaze fell upon the two who were making my bed a complete mess as Zero kept freezing her. But the new fox named Kyomi just brushes it off, having complete immunity to ice.

“Zero, why don’t you just knock her away?” I said, and at the same time, I can’t believe I would suggest he hurt this innocent fox. Is it possible that I feel jealousy?

‘Don’t worry, Euphy. I like you the most. Kyomi seemed to understand what was said as she started jumping up and down on him with her front legs. ‘Stop, Kyomi, I was just telling the truth. Listen, you can be my second girl, ok, so just calm down!’

What’s Zero even talking about? How am I even his girl in the first place? “Stop talking nonsense and explain to me in detail what happened.”

‘Sigh… fine, so this is what took place...’

I can’t believe you could actually inherit someone’s summon beast by eating them. No human would ever attempt something so insane. But, if for some reason people found out in the future, I wouldn’t put it past their greed to attempt it.

“Can Kyomi speak to you?” I asked curiously, wondering if she could also communicate as Zero did with me.

‘No… It’s more like I can just understand what she’s thinking. There’s a chance in the future she could begin to speak because she inherited my skills perfectly, from what I can tell.’ Zero was currently holding Kyomi at arm’s length with his paw keeping her from smothering him.

What’s up with these two? First I had zero yesterday being so affectionate with me, then all of a sudden another fox comes into the picture with the same kind of personality trait. My feelings feel twisted; on one side he killed a person without showing any type of remorse. But he’s my summoned beast and also the one who should protect me in the future.

That’s why we’ve always been taught at the academy. My father's beasts follow his orders without question, and so do many of the summoned beasts you see within the oversight guild. But zero, on the other hand, shows that he won’t comply unless he feels like it. I can’t help but worry about the future. Even though I dreamed of a powerful summons, was I actually ready to accept what that would mean?

“Zero… can I ask you a serious question?” My mind is in turmoil because of how he might respond, but I have to at least ask to understand.

‘Go ahead.’ I couldn’t help but sigh at what Zero was currently doing. He had doubled his size to dwarf Kyomi and then lay on top of her, causing the little pink-tipped fox to squeal as she became unable to move.

“Why did you have to kill that man?” His summons was also nowhere to be found. I can only assume they had the same fate as the one who brought them into this world. Even though he was a garbage human being, he still didn’t deserve to die. That’s what laws are for: to protect citizens and beasts from these types of people.

‘Because he challenged me, it’s as simple as that.’ I stared at Zero for a long time until he spoke again within my mind. ‘He also hurt Kyomi, one of my kind, and from that point on I decided to protect her.’

“You could’ve protected her without killing; we have laws in this world. If anyone who disliked another just killed because of such a thing, this world would turn into chaos.” Seeing the non-reaction from Zero, I felt a little uneasy.

‘What do you know about chaos, Euphy?’

“Umm… Isn’t it a world without law and order?”

‘Oh, I see; you mean where people in power do nothing but take advantage of them and make all your decisions.’ Zero let out a loud snort. ‘Euphy, your way of thinking is far too naïve and something I could never accept. I’ve lived the past twenty years in a world where I could get eaten at any moment. You expect me to allow someone who could bring harm later on to live?’

Well, it’s true that I understand what he’s talking about, but can killing someone be overlooked like this as if it were the natural order of things? My father is part of the city’s police through the guild, and even a majority of our members patrol the streets to keep law and order. It’s how I’ve always grown up, and I don’t really know any better.

“But zero, you’re not in that world anymore, and you’re now living in an environment that won’t accept this type of thinking.” I couldn’t help but sigh as I watched Zero rise up and walk right in front of me. My eyes locked with his.

'Imagine that I killed your father yesterday instead of listening and stopping my actions. Would you want me to live? Then after that I mauled your mother; would you still not have the will to kill me? Are you going to be one of those useless superheroes who allow villains to use the law as a revolving door?’

“Uhh…” My body shook at the power of oppression I was feeling from Zero. He was so kind, but right now I could understand how he reigned over his past world.

'Imagine living a life as a human up to your middle ages, then dying randomly one day. You wake up turned into a beast in a world that wanted to kill you. Having to run day and night for your life, and on more than one occasion you would be tracked down by predators for weeks at a time. It would be lucky if you got thirty minutes of sleep within a week’s time.’

“I’m sorry… Zero…” I couldn’t help but have tears fall from my eyes. It was quite obvious to me that he was talking about his own experiences. Did he just say he was once a human?

‘I’ve learned that you have to protect what’s yours and never allow a predator who threatened you to stay alive. The chance of them coming back for revenge one day is too high. Also, Euphemia, do you fear me now?’ There was no emotion in his voice as Zero asked that question.

“What are you talking about?” Do I actually fear him? It's possible, but I don’t actually think he would hurt me.

‘Really… then why has Kyomi already manifested upon activating my soul link, but you just barely had some resistance to my absolute zero? Is it possible that my skill is rejecting you?’ I couldn’t help but break down internally at those words from Zero. ‘You better get your head right, Euphemia Hawthorne, or your precious summons might just disappear on you forever.’

At those words, he walked out of the room with Kyomi darting after him. Everything I’ve learned about being a summoner is all useless. How can I even control a beast at such a high level, and am I even worthy of him?

It’s obvious he doubts me and thinks I’m weak. But he’s lived in a world where he had to be strong to survive; if it’s by those standards, I can’t really fault him for thinking that way. What does he truly expect out of me?

Why has he called me his first woman? Do I have to love a fox to get his support? On the other hand, love isn’t only an emotion when it comes to your companion. Love means many things depending on who it’s directed towards. Maybe Zero just wants my full support in the future without doubt.

I know my feelings are complicated when I think about him, and I don’t know how to fix it currently. If I just ran after him, what would that even achieve? All the power in the relationship would go to him, but do I even have a choice?

We bring summons into this world to protect us, so at the very least we should wholeheartedly trust our saviors. He even now has someone else he can shower with affection. Does he even need me? Probably not; I couldn't help but feel gloomy.

Knock…Knock…

“Honey, can I come in?” I heard my mom on the other side of the door.

“Sure…” It came out weakly, as I couldn’t help but tear up at what just happened.

My mom, seeing my state, rushed over and brought me into her embrace.

“What’s wrong, Euphy?” Her voice was shaky as she spoke sweet words into my ears to calm me down.

After a little while of enjoying the loving touch of my mother, I spilled out everything that took place today.

“It’s true what Zero said; sometimes you have to take a life to save people in the future.”

“But, Father…” I couldn’t quite get out my thoughts before I was interrupted.

“Maybe it’s time you think for yourself instead of trying to follow in your father’s footsteps. Zero is a one-in-a-million summons, and all he wants is your loyalty. I’m sure a beast such as him is very adept at picking up on someone’s emotions. He probably knew how you were feeling even though you didn’t even know it yourself.” My mom’s words hit a nerve, and I couldn’t help but accept them.

It’s true I wanted to prove to my father that I was successful and follow in his footsteps because of my respect towards him. But it seems like Zero will only conflict with his values in the future. What am I supposed to do? How can I pick Zero over my father or my father over Zero?

“What do I do?” I pleaded to my mom to hopefully give me some kind of guidance.

“It’s your life; choose the way you want to live it. On one hand you will have your father's support, and on the other you will have the most overpowered beast I’ve ever seen. But to achieve the latter, you have to give your heart to that beast. Just make a decision that you won’t regret.

After my mother’s words, I lay down on my bed deep in thought, not even getting an ounce of sleep all night.